The Friends With Paws program is a partnership between the Governor’s Office, West Virginia Communities In Schools (CIS) Nonprofit, and the West Virginia Department of Education. Therapy dogs are placed in schools within CIS counties where students are disproportionately affected by poverty, substance misuse, or other at-risk situations, and are in the greatest need of a support animal. The dogs serve as a healthy and friendly outlet for these students to address trauma and other social-emotional issues.
Schools that previously received therapy dogs through the Friends With Paws program include:
● Coal, a male Black Labrador, at Welch Elementary, McDowell County
● Foster, a male Golden Labradoodle, at Buckhannon Academy Elementary, Upshur County
● Jasper, a female Yellow Labrador, at Lewis County High School, Lewis County
● River, a male Yellow Labrador, at Pineville Elementary School, Wyoming County
● Shadow, a male Black Labrador, at Moorefield Elementary School, Hardy County
● Jet, a male Yellow Labrador, at Spring Mills High School, Berkeley County
● Kylo, a male Black Labrador, at Lenore PK-8 School, Mingo County
● Winnie, a female Apricot and White Labradoodle, at Wayne Elementary School, Wayne County
● Kasha, a female Yellow Labrador, at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, Pocahontas County
● Marshal, a male Cream Labradoodle, at Hinton Area Elementary School, Summers County
● Louie, a male Yellow Labrador, at Bridgeview Elementary School, Kanawha County
● Oakley, a male Apricot and Cream Labradoodle, at Oakvale Elementary School, Mercer County
● Ruby, a female Golden Retriever, at Greenbrier East High School, Greenbrier County
● Malfoy, a male Yellow Labrador, at Chapmanville Intermediate School, Logan County
● Tora, a female Yellow Labrador, at Elkins High School, Randolph County
● Skye, a female Brown Labradoodle, at Berkeley Springs High School, Morgan County
● Penny, a female Yellow Labrador, at Pendleton County Middle/High School, Pendleton County
More information about Friends With Paws can be found in Communities In Schools: Friends With Paws, a documentary produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
In addition, research shows that the simple act of petting animals releases an automatic relaxation response. Therapy animals lower anxiety and help people relax, provide comfort, reduce loneliness, and increase mental stimulation. They are also shown to lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health, reduce the amount of medications some people need, help control breathing in those with anxiety, and diminish overall physical pain, among other profound benefits.